Spend accounting for AC vs. WJ
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC, HH
Posts: 25
Spend accounting for AC vs. WJ
Does anyone know if AC and WJ account for spending the same way? Reason why I ask is as follows.
I've been following Flyertalk on and off for years, never contributed anything because I'm only a semi-frequent traveler. Not the general public who mostly fly once or twice a year but also have never earned any status in the past. Changed job last year and traveling more but still nowhere near most on this forum.
However, looking at the first 4 months and the remaining 8 of this year, I seem to have arrived at the following conclusion: WJ is much better for the semi-frequent domestic business travelers than AC:
1. Since Jan 1, I've flown with AC on 16 AQS, earned a pathetic 3796 AQM and spent $4,619 AQD;
2. For the remainder of the year, I'm guaranteed to reach 24 AQS, decent likelihood to exceed that and earn my first status. But nowhere near required AQM and way beyond required AQD;
3. No telling if I'll be traveling this much next year, likelihood is low;
4. Put all this together, if I fly AC, every year would be a stretch for me to reach E25K but guaranteed silver and high likelihood of reaching WJ Gold. Making it a no-brainer for me to convert to WJ starting 2021 if I don't maintain AC E25K in 2020.
Which circles back to my original question, do they account for spending the same? Would my current $4,619 AQD be equivalent if I had flown on WJ assuming the fares were close? Meaning I'd already be close to WJ Gold by now.
I've been following Flyertalk on and off for years, never contributed anything because I'm only a semi-frequent traveler. Not the general public who mostly fly once or twice a year but also have never earned any status in the past. Changed job last year and traveling more but still nowhere near most on this forum.
However, looking at the first 4 months and the remaining 8 of this year, I seem to have arrived at the following conclusion: WJ is much better for the semi-frequent domestic business travelers than AC:
1. Since Jan 1, I've flown with AC on 16 AQS, earned a pathetic 3796 AQM and spent $4,619 AQD;
2. For the remainder of the year, I'm guaranteed to reach 24 AQS, decent likelihood to exceed that and earn my first status. But nowhere near required AQM and way beyond required AQD;
3. No telling if I'll be traveling this much next year, likelihood is low;
4. Put all this together, if I fly AC, every year would be a stretch for me to reach E25K but guaranteed silver and high likelihood of reaching WJ Gold. Making it a no-brainer for me to convert to WJ starting 2021 if I don't maintain AC E25K in 2020.
Which circles back to my original question, do they account for spending the same? Would my current $4,619 AQD be equivalent if I had flown on WJ assuming the fares were close? Meaning I'd already be close to WJ Gold by now.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson
Posts: 35,232
Does anyone know if AC and WJ account for spending the same way? Reason why I ask is as follows.
I've been following Flyertalk on and off for years, never contributed anything because I'm only a semi-frequent traveler. Not the general public who mostly fly once or twice a year but also have never earned any status in the past. Changed job last year and traveling more but still nowhere near most on this forum.
However, looking at the first 4 months and the remaining 8 of this year, I seem to have arrived at the following conclusion: WJ is much better for the semi-frequent domestic business travelers than AC:
1. Since Jan 1, I've flown with AC on 16 AQS, earned a pathetic 3796 AQM and spent $4,619 AQD;
2. For the remainder of the year, I'm guaranteed to reach 24 AQS, decent likelihood to exceed that and earn my first status. But nowhere near required AQM and way beyond required AQD;
3. No telling if I'll be traveling this much next year, likelihood is low;
4. Put all this together, if I fly AC, every year would be a stretch for me to reach E25K but guaranteed silver and high likelihood of reaching WJ Gold. Making it a no-brainer for me to convert to WJ starting 2021 if I don't maintain AC E25K in 2020.
Which circles back to my original question, do they account for spending the same? Would my current $4,619 AQD be equivalent if I had flown on WJ assuming the fares were close? Meaning I'd already be close to WJ Gold by now.
I've been following Flyertalk on and off for years, never contributed anything because I'm only a semi-frequent traveler. Not the general public who mostly fly once or twice a year but also have never earned any status in the past. Changed job last year and traveling more but still nowhere near most on this forum.
However, looking at the first 4 months and the remaining 8 of this year, I seem to have arrived at the following conclusion: WJ is much better for the semi-frequent domestic business travelers than AC:
1. Since Jan 1, I've flown with AC on 16 AQS, earned a pathetic 3796 AQM and spent $4,619 AQD;
2. For the remainder of the year, I'm guaranteed to reach 24 AQS, decent likelihood to exceed that and earn my first status. But nowhere near required AQM and way beyond required AQD;
3. No telling if I'll be traveling this much next year, likelihood is low;
4. Put all this together, if I fly AC, every year would be a stretch for me to reach E25K but guaranteed silver and high likelihood of reaching WJ Gold. Making it a no-brainer for me to convert to WJ starting 2021 if I don't maintain AC E25K in 2020.
Which circles back to my original question, do they account for spending the same? Would my current $4,619 AQD be equivalent if I had flown on WJ assuming the fares were close? Meaning I'd already be close to WJ Gold by now.
You'll need to also compare the benefits of WS G vs. AC P25K and other factors including fare types and rules, and those aren't identical with AC and WS.
Also, if your work begins to take you to places where WS doesn't fly but AC does, then you'll need to also take that into account.
But if WS works for you at this juncture, then more power to you.
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,352
Best to check the WS website.
"Subject to the exclusions below, annual qualifying spend is one hundred per cent of the amount spent on eligible published base fares for WestJet-marketed flights you have flown within a qualifying year and, twenty per cent of the individual portion of the base price of eligible WestJet Vacations packages you have booked on or after August 20, 2018 and completed within a qualifying year."
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/contac...estjet-rewards
So, AC uses Base Fare and YQ, WS uses Base Fare - I assume they don't tack on YQ. It should be the same.
"Subject to the exclusions below, annual qualifying spend is one hundred per cent of the amount spent on eligible published base fares for WestJet-marketed flights you have flown within a qualifying year and, twenty per cent of the individual portion of the base price of eligible WestJet Vacations packages you have booked on or after August 20, 2018 and completed within a qualifying year."
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/contac...estjet-rewards
So, AC uses Base Fare and YQ, WS uses Base Fare - I assume they don't tack on YQ. It should be the same.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC, HH
Posts: 25
Best to check the WS website.
"Subject to the exclusions below, annual qualifying spend is one hundred per cent of the amount spent on eligible published base fares for WestJet-marketed flights you have flown within a qualifying year and, twenty per cent of the individual portion of the base price of eligible WestJet Vacations packages you have booked on or after August 20, 2018 and completed within a qualifying year."
So, AC uses Base Fare and YQ, WS uses Base Fare - I assume they don't tack on YQ. It should be the same.
"Subject to the exclusions below, annual qualifying spend is one hundred per cent of the amount spent on eligible published base fares for WestJet-marketed flights you have flown within a qualifying year and, twenty per cent of the individual portion of the base price of eligible WestJet Vacations packages you have booked on or after August 20, 2018 and completed within a qualifying year."
So, AC uses Base Fare and YQ, WS uses Base Fare - I assume they don't tack on YQ. It should be the same.
If anyone has feedback/disagreement on my specific scenario I welcome the insights. Using corporate agency I'm only allowed to book lowest logical fare, hence the low AQM earning power. The only way for me to maintain status with AC is through segments, which I have a hard time seeing myself doing year after year. Earning any sort of status with WS would be so much easier and I assume it's better to have some sort of status than none at all.
#6
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YXU, ON Canada
Programs: AC LT E50K; AC*MM; SPG LT Gold
Posts: 4,665
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,186
#8
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: YXU, ON Canada
Programs: AC LT E50K; AC*MM; SPG LT Gold
Posts: 4,665
OK. I understand now. I guess my feeling is that the only reason for flying a particular airline is what else you're going to get. Especially if you're in Y, there's not much difference between the hard products, except maybe for seat pitch.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: YYC
Programs: AC, HH
Posts: 25
Maybe I'm better suited to stay off this forum.
Last edited by chunerrr; May 8, 2019 at 10:35 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson
Posts: 35,232
However, @canadiancow is giving some experienced advice... and I agree with it, although again that's MHO.
When I first started flying, I had the same thought - just get status on whatever I could.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,527
I've yet to make that argument, but I am willing to die on that particular hill if and when necessary.
#13
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Halifax
Programs: AC SE100K, Marriott Lifetime Platinum Elite. NEXUS
Posts: 4,527
For *me*, flying from Halifax to a few Canadian and mostly US destinations, AC (and UA via *A) is and effective lazy choice. Status makes the 140 segments/year tolerable.
#14
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,925
OP,
Beware chasing status, there are many on this board who will likely envy you. By not having allegiance to a specific airline you have the freedom to choose the flight schedule, etc. that best suits your needs. Instead of chasing status you might be better served getting a credit card such as the Amex Platinum card which can get you lounge access, etc. And, as someone else mentioned does either WS or AC get you to all of the places you need to go? Even if you could concentrate your flying on a specific airline, you might still have to split your flying to get where you need to.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy having my various statuses, but its like an addiction. At year end, I start spending personal money and making trips I likely shouldn't just to renew if I'm short of the required cut-off (which is what the companies want you to do).
Beware chasing status, there are many on this board who will likely envy you. By not having allegiance to a specific airline you have the freedom to choose the flight schedule, etc. that best suits your needs. Instead of chasing status you might be better served getting a credit card such as the Amex Platinum card which can get you lounge access, etc. And, as someone else mentioned does either WS or AC get you to all of the places you need to go? Even if you could concentrate your flying on a specific airline, you might still have to split your flying to get where you need to.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy having my various statuses, but its like an addiction. At year end, I start spending personal money and making trips I likely shouldn't just to renew if I'm short of the required cut-off (which is what the companies want you to do).